New Delhi: On July 15, 2025, India marked the 10th anniversary of the transformative Skill India Mission (SIM), coinciding with World Youth Skills Day. Launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this flagship initiative under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has empowered over 6 crore Indians since 2014, equipping them with industry-relevant skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. With a focus on inclusivity, innovation, and aligning with global standards, SIM has become a cornerstone of India’s journey toward becoming a self-reliant and developed nation (Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat).

Introduction: Harnessing India’s Demographic Dividend

India’s youthful population, with 65% under the age of 35, represents a significant demographic dividend. However, unlocking this potential requires equipping the youth with relevant skills. The Skill India Mission, launched on July 15, 2015, addresses this need through skill development, re-skilling, and up-skilling programs. By focusing on apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, global workforce readiness, and traditional crafts, SIM has transformed lives, particularly for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). As of 2025, the mission has trained over 1.6 crore youth under its flagship Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), with courses now spanning emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Drone Technology, and Mechatronics.

Skill India Mission: A Robust Framework for Skilling

The Skill India Mission operates through an extensive network of skill development centers and institutes, delivering training under various schemes. In February 2025, the restructured Skill India Programme (2022-23 to 2025-26) was approved, merging three key initiatives into a single Central Sector Scheme:

1. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Launched on July 15, 2015, PMKVY provides short-term skill training and upskilling/re-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). It incentivizes youth with a Rs. 500 reward for skill certification, boosting employability across sectors like manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT, electronics, and retail.
2. Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS): This scheme targets non-literates, neo-literates, and school dropouts aged 15–45, with a focus on women, SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities in rural and low-income urban areas. From FY 2018-19 to FY 2023-24, 26 lakh people were trained under JSS.
3. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): NAPS promotes apprenticeships by offering financial support for stipends, combining basic training and on-the-job training. As of May 19, 2025, 43.47 lakh apprentices have been engaged across 36 States and Union Territories, with participation from over 51,000 establishments.

To enhance the skilling ecosystem, two Centres of Excellence were announced on June 16, 2025, at National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Hyderabad and Chennai. These centers focus on high-quality instructor training and specialized skilling in emerging domains, positioning India as a global skill hub.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A Decade of Impact

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the cornerstone of SIM, has trained over 1.63 crore candidates since 2015. The scheme has evolved through four phases, each aligning with India’s broader missions like Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat.

• PMKVY 1.0 (2015-16): The pilot phase trained 19.85 lakh candidates, laying the foundation for short-term skilling.
• PMKVY 2.0 (2016-20): Scaled up to train/orient 1.10 crore candidates, expanding sectoral and geographical coverage.
• PMKVY 3.0 (2020-22): Introduced two special programs:
  • Customised Crash Course Programme for COVID Warriors (CCCP-CW): Trained 1.20 lakh health workers to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Skill Hub Initiative (SHI): Trained 1.23 lakh youth using schools and colleges as vocational hubs, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. A total of 7.37 lakh candidates were trained under PMKVY 3.0.
• PMKVY 4.0 (2022-25): As of July 11, 2025, 25 lakh candidates have been trained, with Rs. 1244.52 crore utilized across States/UTs in the last three financial years (2022–25).

PMKVY’s inclusivity is evident, with 45% of trainees being women and significant representation from marginalized communities. The scheme has democratized skill access, reaching rural and remote areas and covering diverse sectors, including cutting-edge fields like AI, Robotics, and IoT.

Innovative Initiatives Under PMKVY

PMKVY has introduced several innovative projects to address specific needs:

• Special Projects: Targeted skilling for marginalized groups, including 2,500 Bru-tribe candidates in Tripura, jail inmates in Assam and Manipur, and 13,834 candidates (70% women) under the PANKH project across 18 states.
• Traditional Crafts & Upskilling: Trained 2,243 women in Jammu & Kashmir’s Namda craft and 9,605 artisans and weavers in Nagaland and J&K under RPL, led by the Handicraft and Carpet Sector Skill Council.
• Mainstreaming Skilling: Integrated skill development into flagship schemes like PM Surya Ghar, Vibrant Villages Programme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Skill Hub Initiative: Aligned with NEP 2020, it uses educational institutions as vocational hubs.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Formalizes informal workers’ skills, enhancing employability.
• Digital Reforms: The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) integrates skilling, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems with Aadhaar-based validation and performance-linked payments.
• Academic Mobility: PMKVY 4.0 integrates with the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), enabling credit transfers between skill and formal education.

Other Schemes Driving Skill Development

Beyond PMKVY, SIM includes several schemes to empower diverse groups:

• PM Vishwakarma Yojana: Launched on September 17, 2023, this scheme supports artisans and craftspeople in 18 trades with PM Vishwakarma Certificates, skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, credit support, digital transaction incentives, and marketing support. With an outlay of Rs. 13,000 crore until 2027-28, it has received 2.7 crore applications, with 29 lakh registered as of July 13, 2025.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): Launched on September 25, 2014, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), it trains rural youth for wage employment, achieving a 65% placement rate. By November 2024, 16,90,046 candidates were trained, and 10,97,265 were placed.
• Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs): Launched in January 2009, RSETIs provide residential entrepreneurial training and credit linkage. In FY 2025-26, 56,69,369 candidates were trained, a significant increase from 22,89,739 in FY 2016-17.

Achievements and Impact

The Skill India Mission has achieved remarkable milestones:

• Massive Outreach: Over 6 crore citizens trained since 2014, with 1.6 crore under PMKVY alone.
• Inclusivity: 45% women and significant representation from SCs, STs, and OBCs.
• Sectoral Expansion: Training in traditional and emerging sectors like AI, Robotics, and IoT.
• Apprenticeship Growth: 43.47 lakh apprentices engaged under NAPS.
• Job Readiness: Improved from 34% in 2014 to 51% in 2024 among college students.

Challenges in Realizing the Vision

Despite its successes, SIM faces challenges:

• Low Placement Rates: Only 42.8% placement rate under PMKVY’s Short-Term Training (STT) component until PMKVY 3.0.
• Digital Divide: Limited digital access in rural areas hinders online training delivery.
• Curriculum Gaps: Training often lags behind rapidly evolving industry demands.
• Fragmented Implementation: Overlapping schemes reduce coordination.
• Quality Assurance: Variations in trainer quality and institutional standards affect outcomes.

Recent Initiatives to Address Challenges

To overcome these hurdles, SIM has introduced:

• Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH): A unified platform for skilling, education, and employment.
• Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): Facilitates credit transfers under PMKVY 4.0.
• Centres of Excellence: Launched in Hyderabad and Chennai for advanced training.
• Outcome-Based Monitoring: Aadhaar-linked verification and digital certification for transparency.

Leadership and Commitment

On July 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to skilling, calling SIM a “transformative initiative” that empowers millions. In a post on X, he emphasized equipping youth with skills aligned with global best practices to realize Viksit Bharat. Skill Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary highlighted SIM’s impact on women and marginalized communities, reinforcing the mission’s inclusive ethos.

World Youth Skills Day 2025

The 10th anniversary of SIM coincided with World Youth Skills Day, observed annually on July 15 since its declaration by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. This year’s theme, “Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills”, aligns with SIM’s focus on future-ready technologies.

Way Forward: Building a Skilled Future

To fully realize its vision, SIM must:

• Enhance Industry Linkages: Collaborate with industries for curriculum design and apprenticeships.
• Bridge the Digital Divide: Invest in digital infrastructure for rural skilling.
• Mainstream Vocational Education: Integrate vocational training into school curricula per NEP 2020.
• Strengthen Monitoring: Implement real-time feedback and assessments to ensure quality.

Conclusion

The Skill India Mission, through initiatives like PMKVY, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, DDU-GKY, and RSETIs, has transformed India’s skilling landscape. By empowering 6 crore citizens, fostering inclusivity, and embracing innovation, SIM is paving the way for a knowledge-driven, skilled economy. As India progresses toward Viksit Bharat, the mission’s focus on digitalization, industry alignment, and inclusivity will ensure its youth remain globally competitive, unlocking the full potential of the nation’s demographic dividend.

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